Phrases

‘This is exactly the sort of compulsive behaviour I have to avoid for fear of going mad.’

‘He speculated that the tree was ill and the koalas knew of it, avoiding the leaves for fear of food poisoning.’

‘Players were afraid to take defensive risks for fear that no one would help out, and often no one would.’

‘It is applied in so many places that we often avoid using the word for fear that we will be misunderstood.’

‘There are certain questions that you don't dare ask yourself for fear of what the answer might be.’

‘I do not let my seven and eight year olds play out for fear of what might happen.’

‘I cannot allow my friends' children to play there for fear of what they may step in.’

‘He told the court she had a violent temper and he was too afraid to cross her for fear of what she might do.’

‘Many young people are refusing to contribute for fear that they will receive nothing back in their old age.’

‘Annie wanted to scream, but didn't dare, for fear of what might happen if she did.’

without fear or favour

Impartially.

‘take all your decisions without fear or favour’

‘Judges are supposed to impartially interpret the law without fear or favour.’

‘What hidden motivations are there in an oath that states that our judges will pledge themselves to act fairly and impartially, without fear or favour, affection, or ill will?’

‘Anyone suspected of criminal behaviour, regardless of who they are, should be subject to investigation, and, if the competent authority deems necessary, should be tried without fear or favour.’

‘They have specific legislation securing their independence, permanence, identity and mandate - and their freedom to work professionally, without fear or favour.’

‘He has, without fear or favour, consistently stood up for the people of Bootham and of the city.’

‘But surely the answer isn't to abolish the fee but to insist that it is spent on quality drama and serious news, controversial where necessary and without fear or favour to the powers-that-be.’

‘University researchers know that funding from business is not necessarily submission to the dictates of the market, but perhaps the only guarantee of being able to conduct research without fear or favour.’

‘I guess this post is going to land me in trouble with some people but I have spent my whole life speaking without fear or favour so I am not going to retreat from telling the facts now.’

‘We all know that these proposals would be implemented without fear or favour - but only among those least able to survive a wage cut which took them down to a weekly salary of £60.’

‘In these days when many charges of sensationalism are levelled against the media, it is the weekly papers of the country which are upholding the traditions of reportage without fear or favour.’

put the fear of God in someone

Make someone very frightened.

‘she hoped the threat would put the fear of God in him’

‘They must observe human rights at all times as well as protect people rather than putting the fear of God into them.’

‘Apart from a few acrobatic monkeys putting the fear of God into me, and sweltering soaking heat, it was a pleasant trek.’

‘We want people to take sensitive precautions - we don't want to put the fear of God into them.’

‘His tactic at a meeting in Washington this August with state emergency managers was to put the fear of God into them.’

‘If I saw someone with a rifle running towards me, it would put the fear of God into me as well.’

‘One of the lightening bolts put the fear of God into me!’

‘Last year they put the fear of God in us that our homes were going to fall down around our ears and that we would need to move out immediately.’

‘There was something about those last two words - delivered with a kind of implied terror - that put the fear of God in me.’

‘If that puts the fear of God in you, then you should know we're here for you.’

‘Your mother and I are trying to put the fear of God into you, but, nothing seems to be working, does it?’

never fear

Used to reassure someone.

‘we shall meet again, never fear’

‘Well, never fear, you shall meet all of those new things one at a time, and in no time at all they won't be new any more, they shall seem like old friends.’

‘But never fear, I am required as Admissions Officer to check in regularly while on holiday, to sort out new students applying and those that panic when the Embassy won't give them a study visa.’

‘If you missed it - as you probably did - never fear.’

‘But never fear - puppeteering will continue in Philadelphia.’

‘Next week there will be no circuit training because of Christmas, but never fear it will return after Christmas, so you can shed those pounds that have been gained because of all the puddings.’

‘If you didn't get to participate this time, never fear.’

‘And, never fear, all art was judged by an independent board so you can rest assured that only ‘worthy’ art will be seen by the throngs of visitors.’

‘The clock ticks, and still that perfect gift eludes… but never fear!’

‘On the other hand, if you'd like to take advantage of these incentives but are concerned about booking online, never fear.’

‘I'll keep you posted on weather happenings here, never fear!’

no fearBritish informal

Used as an emphatic expression of denial or refusal.

‘‘Are you coming with me?’ ‘No fear—it's too exciting here!’’

Origin

Old English fǣr ‘calamity, danger’, fǣran ‘frighten’, also ‘revere’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gevaar and German Gefahr ‘danger’.